Highlands and Islands……..Belfast, Northern Ireland

This was our last port of call and we were torn between staying in the city to see all the sights we had seen so much on the television, but we couldn’t resist the lure of the Giant’s Causeway, which was within easy reach.

Belfast docks

The docks seemed very busy after the traquility of the harbours we had been visiting. Across the harbour from us was the famous Harland and Wolfe shipyard where the doomed Titanic was built, Samson and Goliath – the giant cranes, the Titanic Experience building and everywhere container ships.

Samson and Goliath

Our guide, Marie Theresa, was once again a fund of information about the places we passed and the history of the area. She was very even handed when she told us about the troubles of recent years.
We drove inland through the counties of Downe and Antrim, passing through some beautiful villages. It was difficult to reconcile this gentle vista with the ugly scenes of bombing and fighting which we were seeing all too frequently on our television screens not so very long ago.
We stopped briefly to take photos of Dunluce Castle ruins.This castle was owned by the Duke of Buckingham in 17c.

Ruins of Dunluce Castle

The Visitors Centre at the Giant’s Causeway is managed by the National Trust and is run as efficiently as all their properties.
We had a tasty light lunch and then took the bus down to the stones. There were lots of people there clambering over the stones. We had been given maps and personal audiophones.

Stones of Giant’s Causeway

Another viewing

View three

Popular viewing point

We had two hours there which soon passed and then we set off back again, returning by the coast road.
The scenery is beautiful, cliffs, rocks and sandy bays. We passed through villages with colourful gardens and hanging baskets.

Rugged coastline

We arrived back in time for afternoon tea and swapped stories of what we had seen. Those who had been to the Titanic Experience had been very impressed by it and those who did the City tour had found parts of it very moving.
I would like to go back again at some time to see all these other things.
That evening was the Captain’s Farewell party so we all togged up in evening dress.
After dinner JW and I went to listen to the String Trio, who were very good. They played light classics. One of the tunes I recognised as a gavotte which I had danced to for my grade 3 ballet exam! I could even remember the steps, not bad after 60+ years. 🙂
We rounded off the evening sitting on deck and watching a lone gannet following in our wake, swooping, gliding and diving, giving a tireless acrobatic display.

2 comments

On. My. Gosh. This is just too much. I’ve been doing some genealogy work, and my ancestors are rooted in County Down for sure. Antrim is ringing a bell, too, but I can’t find it just now.

What I do have is this: ” David DeYarmon, Senior, a son of Hugh Deyarmon of County Down, Ireland, was born at Cargygray, Annahilt Parish, County Down, Ireland, about three miles from Bellanyhinch, the nearest town.”

He was born in 1771. He and his brothers came to this country and settled near Philadelphia. Eventually, his grand-daughter married my great-great-grandfather, David Crowley, and his daughter Sarah married my gr-gr-gr-grandfather Nathan Crowley. It’s confusing, but there were three families – Crowleys, Paxtons and Deyarmons – who hooked up in West Virginia and then began traveling west. Apparently they all got along pretty well. 😉

JW has roots in Ireland too in Mayo and Connaught, so he has been several times, but I have only been to Dublin and Belfast. It is on our wish list to take the VW and drive all round the island, north and south.
Several of his antecedents have settled in the States and I think some of my great uncles emigrated there in the early 20c. As you say it’s a small world.